13. autophagy

Question 1

Why is autophagy required?

Answer 1

For energy and metabolites
Providing amino acids, lipids, nucleotides and sugars under low nutrient conditions
Cell differentiation and remodelling
Removal of aggregates, damaged organelles and invading pathogens

Question 2

Different types of macroautophagy?

Answer 2

Mitophagy
Pexophagy
Xenophagy
Reticulophagy

Question 3

What distinguishes macroautophay from microautophagy and chaperone-mediated?

Answer 3

It uses autophagosomes

Question 4

Name molecules involved in autophagosome formation

Answer 4

ULK1/2 complex
Class III PI3K complex
Atg18/Atg21/WD-repeat proteins
Atg12 conjugation system
Atg8/LC3 conjugation system
Atg9 – multispan transmembrane protein

Question 5

How is autophagy selective?

Answer 5

p62 attaches to the substance marked for degradation and binds to LC3 on the autophagosome via it’s LIR

Question 6

Example diseases caused by autophagy dysfunction

Answer 6

Tumours
Cystic fibrosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Chronic infection